Spooling cable

ABSTRACT

A method includes mounting a spool system at a floor level of a multiple dwelling unit. The floor level has multiple customer units. The spool system includes at least one spool of fiber optic cable. Each end of each fiber optic cable has a spliced-on connector. The method further includes paying out a length of fiber optic cable from the at least one spool to reach a customer unit of the floor level, connecting one of the connectors of the paid-out fiber optic cable to a floor splitter, and connecting the floor splitter to a distribution splitter of the multiple dwelling unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application is a divisional of, and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §121 from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/136,247,filed on Dec. 20, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to spooling cable.

BACKGROUND

Billions of dollars are spent annually delivering high speed fibernetworks to Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs), such as apartments, condos, andstudent-housing. Service providers recognize the rich potential returnson a fiber investment in such high-density markets. There are a numberof fiber network architectures that service providers use for deploymentof fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) services. A Passive Optical Network (PON)has been very successful in this application.

PON technology is a point-to-multipoint FTTP network architecture thatuses unpowered optical splitters, which allow a single optical fiber toserve multiple premises. Being passive, a PON has no active electronicsin the network loop, which significantly lowers maintenance costs. Also,due to the reduced number of network elements there are fewer potentialfailure points, minimizing operational expense.

In MDU environments, there is typically limited space in equipment roomson each floor to store telecom cross-connect cabinets, let alone slackstorage. Due to the size of drop fiber cable, a fiber installationusually requires an additional slack storage box to store drop fiberslack. Since there is typically little or no space at all in eachequipment closet, installers currently cut the fiber to length andsplice on connectors to minimize slack storage.

SUMMARY

In MDU environments, an installer may install a fiber optic cable in ahallway, between a riser and a customer unit space. A cable fibermanufacturer determines the lengths of the cables. Therefore, aninstaller either stores the unused cable or cuts the fiber to a desiredlength. Field splicing fiber typically increases overall labor time andcost. Moreover, field fusion splicing typically occurs in non-idealenvironments. Splicing the fiber and installing the connectors in acontrolled environment, such as a factory, reduces potentialcraftsmanship errors that can arise from many different fieldtechnicians splicing, bad field conditions for splicing, and errors intesting splices. A drop wheel having a spool of fiber with plug & playconnectors on each end of the fiber eliminates the time to field spliceon each connector to the fiber as well as the labor unit to do so. Thedrop wheel technology eliminates the space concerns by using small fiberdrop cable in a very small space.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a spool system that includes aspool and a spool support supporting the spool. The spool includes aspool body having a center axis of rotation, a shaft having a first enddisposed on the spool body and extending from the spool body along thecenter axis of rotation to a second end, and an anti-rotation featuredisposed on the shaft. The anti-rotation feature defines a non-circularshape.

The spool support defines a slot sized to slidably receive the shaft anda feature receiver having a complementary shape of the anti-rotationfeature. The spool moves along the slot between a stowed position and adeployed position. In some examples, the spool may be detached from thespool support. The feature receiver receives the anti-rotation featureof the spool while in the stowed position, preventing rotation of thespool. The anti-rotation feature of the spool is unseated from thefeature receiver while in the deployed position, allowing rotation ofthe spool.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing features. In some implementations, the anti-rotation featureis disposed on the second end of the shaft. Moreover, the anti-rotationfeature may define a square shape. Other shapes are possible as well,such as rectangular, triangular, oval, star, polyhedral, etc. The slothas first and second ends, and one end of the slot may define thefeature receiver.

In some implementations, the spool support includes a base and acantilevered arm disposed on the base. The cantilevered arm defines theslot and the feature receiver. The base may define a spool seat thatreceives the spool (e.g., seated in the spool seat) while in the stowedposition. The spool support may include a spool splitter disposed on thebase.

In some implementations, the spool body includes a flanged cylinderdefining a bore and a shaft support disposed in the bore. The shaftsupport receives the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft causesrotation of the flanged cylinder. Alternatively, the spool body mayinclude first and second ringed discs spaced parallel from each otherand a spool core disposed between the ringed discs. The spool corereceives the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft causes rotation ofthe spool core. One of the ringed discs may define a slit extending froman inner diameter of the ringed disc to an outer diameter of the ringeddisc.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of using a spool. Thespool includes a spool body having a center axis of rotation and a shaftthat has a first end disposed on the spool body and extending from thespool body along the center axis of rotation to a second end. Moreover,the spool includes an anti-rotation feature disposed on the shaft. Theanti-rotation feature defines a non-circular shape. The spool movesbetween a stowed position and a deployed position along a slot definedby a spool support. The anti-rotation feature of the spool is unseatedfrom a feature receiver defined by the spool support while in thedeployed position, allowing rotation of the spool. The method includesmoving the spool from the stowed position to the deployed position onthe spool support that supports the spool. The method includes payingout a length of cable spooled on the spool and moving the spool from thedeployed position to the stowed position. The anti-rotation feature ofthe spool is received by the feature receiver while in the stowedposition. The feature receiver has a complementary shape of theanti-rotation feature preventing rotation of the spool. In someexamples, the method includes moving the spool onto a spool seat definedby the spool support when the spool is the stowed position. The methodmay include connecting a connector disposed on one end of the cable to aspool splitter disposed on the spool support.

In some implementations, the spool support includes a base and acantilevered arm disposed on the base. The cantilevered arm defines theslot and the feature receiver.

The anti-rotation feature may be disposed on the second end of the shaftand may define a square shape. Additionally or alternatively, the slotmay have first and second ends, where one end of the slot defines thefeature receiver.

The spool body may include a flanged cylinder defining a bore and ashaft support disposed in the bore and receiving the shaft. A rotationof the shaft causes rotation of the flanged cylinder. In some examples,the spool body includes first and second ringed discs spaced parallelfrom each other and a spool core disposed between the ringed discs andreceiving the shaft. The rotation of the shaft causes rotation of thespool core. One of the ringed discs may define a slit extending from aninner diameter of the ringed disc to an outer diameter of the ringeddisc.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method that includesmounting a spool system at a floor of a multiple dwelling unit. Thefloor has multiple customer units, and the spool system includes atleast one spool of fiber optic cable. Each end of each fiber optic cablehas a spliced on connector. The method further includes paying out alength of fiber optic cable from the at least one spool to reach acustomer unit of the multiple dwelling unit, connecting one of theconnectors of the paid out fiber optic cable to a floor splitter, andconnecting the floor spool splitter to a distribution splitter of themultiple dwelling unit.

In some implementations, the distribution splitter of the multipledwelling unit is connected to other floor splitters associated withother floors of the multiple dwelling unit. The method may includemoving the spool from a stowed position to a deployed position on aspool support supporting the spool before paying out the length of fiberoptic cable spooled on the spool. The spool includes a spool body havinga center axis of rotation, a shaft having a first end disposed on thespool body and extending from the spool body along the center axis ofrotation to a second end, and an anti-rotation feature disposed on theshaft. The anti-rotation feature defines a non-circular shape. The spoolmoves between the stowed position and the deployed position along a slotdefined by a spool support. The anti-rotation feature of the spool isunseated from a feature receiver defined by the spool support while inthe deployed position, allowing rotation of the spool. The method alsoincludes moving the spool from the deployed position to the stowedposition after paying out the length of fiber optic cable. The featurereceiver receives the anti-rotation feature of the spool while in thestowed position. The feature receiver has a complementary shape of theanti-rotation feature preventing rotation of the spool.

The method may include moving the spool onto a spool seat defined by thespool support when the spool is the stowed position. The spool supportmay include a base and a cantilevered arm disposed on the base. Thecantilevered arm defines the slot and the feature receiver. The slot hasfirst and second ends; one end of the slot defines the feature receiver.

The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otheraspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionand drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical network using an exemplaryspooling system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an MDU using an exemplary spooling system.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an exemplary spooling system in astowed position.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an exemplary spooling system in adeployed position.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of an exemplary spooling system in adeployed position.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of an exemplary spooling systemtransitioning from a deployed position to a stowed position.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of an exemplary spooling system in astowed position.

FIG. 4A is a side view of an exemplary spooling system in a stowedposition.

FIG. 4B is a front view of the exemplary spooling system of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary spooling system.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary spool support.

FIG. 6B is a side view of the exemplary spool support of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an exemplary array of spooling systems.

FIG. 7B is a front view of the exemplary array of spooling systems ofFIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a side view of the exemplary array of spooling systems ofFIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an exemplary array of spooling systems.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the exemplary array of the spooling systems ofFIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is a front view of the exemplary array of the spooling systemsof FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary arrangement of operations for a method of using aspooling system.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary arrangement of operations for a method of usinga spooling system.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the delivery of a communication signalthrough optical fibers from a central office (CO) or optical lineterminal (OLT) to a home or a business of a user. Referring to FIG. 1, apassive optical network (PON) 100 is a point-to-multipoint networkarchitecture that uses optical splitters 10 to enable a single opticalfiber feeder 20 to serve multiple users 30 a-30 n (e.g. 16-128). The PON100 may be a Wave Division Multiplexing PON (WM-PON) or aGigabit-capable PON (GPON). The PON 100 provides optical signals fromthe CO 40 and includes an optical line terminal 50 (e.g., opticaltransmitter/receiver or transceiver) to a number of optical networkunits/terminals (ONUs or ONTs) 60. Each ONU 60 includes an opticaltransmitter/receiver (i.e., transceiver) for transmitting and receivingdata from the CO 40. In some examples, the PON 100 includes multipleoptical transmitter/receiver or transceiver systems 50. One feeder fiber20 is sent from the CO 40 to a remote node 70, where the signal is splitand distributed to many (e.g., 16, 205 or more) different MDUs 110, 110a-10On via fiber feeders 22, 22 a-22 n. Each MDU 110 splits the signalreceived by the fiber feeder 22 and distributes the signal to many ONTs60 a-60 n via fiber feeders 24, 24 a-24 n to multiple users 30 a-30 n.An ONT 60 describes a single tenant ONU 60. In addition, an ONT 60 islocated at the customer premise, while the ONT 60 is located outside thepremises. Therefore, the ONT 60 is used when the fiber extends into thepremises or home of a customer, while the ONU 60 is used when the fiberis terminated outside the home.

The CO 40 receives information, such as video media distribution 42,internet data 44, and voice data 46 that may be transferred to the endusers 30. The CO 40 includes an OLT 50 connecting the optical accessnetwork to an IP, ATM, or SONET backbone, for example. Therefore, theOLT 50 is the endpoint of the PON 100 and converts the electricalsignals used by a service provider's equipment and the fiber opticsignals used by the PON 100. In addition, the OLT 50 coordinatesmultiplexing between the conversion devices at the user end. The OLT 50sends the fiber optic signal through a feeder fiber 20, and the signalis received by a remote node 70, which demultiplexes the signal anddistributes it to multiple users 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, in MDU 110 environments, such as apartments,condos, and student-housing, an installer may install a custom length offiber optic cable 24 in a hallway, between a riser and a customer unitspace 120. Field splicing fiber typically increases overall labor timeand cost. Moreover, field fusion splicing typically occurs in non-idealenvironments. Splicing the fiber and installing the connectors in acontrolled environment, such as a factory, reduces potentialcraftsmanship errors that can arise from many different fieldtechnicians splicing, bad field conditions for splicing, and errors intesting splices. A spool system 200 having a spool of fiber with plug &play connectors on each end of the fiber eliminates the time to fieldsplice on each connector to the fiber as well as the labor unit to doso. In addition, the spool system 200 includes small fiber drop cable,which reduces the space needed to fit extra unused fiber cable 24.

FIG. 2 shows a method of deploying fiber into an MDU 110. The fibercable 22 reaches the MDU 110 via the fiber feeder 22 and is distributedto each floor 111 of the MDU 110 via a fiber distribution hub 112. Thefiber distribution hub 112 includes a splitter 113 for splitting theincoming signal 22 to each floor. Each floor 111 includes multiple units120. The spool system 200 may be installed on each floor and aninstaller can deploy a fiber cable 24 from the spool system 200 (that issplit from the incoming fiber 22 using a spool splitter 264 discussedbelow) to each user's unit 120. Therefore, each user 30 receives adirect fiber connection 24. As described one splitter 113 is used at thefiber distribution hub 113, and another spool splitter 264 is used atthe spool system 100; however one of the splitter 113 or the spoolsplitter 264 may be used alone. An ONT 60 is located at the user's unit120 or outside the user's unit 120 to convert the fiber signal toelectrical signal.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-6B, in some implementations, the spool system 200includes a spool 210 and a spool support 250 supporting the spool 210.The spool 210 includes a spool body 220 having a center axis of rotationR, a shaft 230 having a first end 230 a disposed on the spool body 220and extending from the spool body 220 along the center axis of rotationR to a second end 230 b, and an anti-rotation feature 240 disposed onthe shaft 230. The anti-rotation feature 240 defines a non-circularshape. In the examples shown, the anti-rotation feature 240 defines asquare shape; however, other shapes that limit rotation are possible aswell, such as a rectangle, triangle, oval, star, polyhedron, etc.

The spool support 250 defines a slot 252 sized to slidably receive theshaft 230 and a feature receiver 254 having a complementary shape of theanti-rotation feature 240. In some examples, the spool support 250houses MPO, SC/APC, SC/UPC, LC/APC, or LC/UPC connectors for theinterface between the fiber distribution hub 112 and the spool 210. Thespool 210 moves along the slot 252 between a stowed position (FIGS. 3Aand 3E) and a deployed position (FIGS. 3B and 3C). In some examples, thespool 210 is releasably connected to the spool support 250 and may bedetached from the spool support 250. The feature receiver 254 receivesthe anti-rotation feature 240 of the spool 210 while in the stowedposition (FIGS. 3A and 3E), preventing rotation of the spool 210. Theanti-rotation feature 240 of the spool 210 is unseated from the featurereceiver 254 while in the deployed position, allowing rotation of thespool 210 due to the rotation of the shaft 230 as shown in FIG. 3C. Insome examples, the slot 252 includes at least one feature guide 256 thatguides the anti-rotation feature 240 towards the feature receiver 254allowing the spool 210 to be in the stowed position. The slot 252 mayinclude a first feature guide 256 a at a first distance D_(A) from oneend of the slot 252 and a second feature guide 256 b at a seconddistance D_(B) from the one end of the slot 252. The first distanceD_(A) is different than the second distance D_(B). The unequal distancesof the feature guides 256 allows the guidance and rotation of theanti-rotation feature 240 to allow it to fit in its feature receiver 254(see FIG. 3D).

In some implementations, the anti-rotation feature 240 is disposed onthe second end 230 b of the shaft 230 and a rotation feature 232 isdisposed on the first end 230 a of the shaft 230. The rotation feature232 allows the shaft 230 to interlock with a shaft support 226(discussed later) that has a complimentary shape to the rotation feature232. The interlocking of the rotation feature 232 and the shaft support226 allows the rotation of both the rotation feature 232 and the shaftsupport 226 when the spool system 200 is in the deployed position and aninstaller is removing the fiber cable 24 from the spool system 200.

The slot 252 has a first end 252 a and a second end 252 b, and one endof the slot 252 may define the feature receiver 254. As shown in thefigures, the first end 230 a defines the feature receiver 254 and thesecond end 230 b of the shaft includes the anti-rotation feature 254while the shaft support is on the first end 230 a end of the shaft 230.However, the second end 252 b of the slot may include the featurereceiver 254; therefore, the shaft 230 may be received in an oppositedirection in the slot 230. Alternatively, the anti-rotation feature 240can be disposed on the shaft 230 between its first and second ends, andthe feature receiver 254 can be disposed on the base 260 or some portionof the spool support 250.

In some implementations, the spool support 250 includes a base 260 and acantilevered arm 270 disposed on the base 260. The cantilevered arm 270defines the slot 252 and the feature receiver 254. The base 260 maydefine a spool seat 262 that receives the spool 210 (e.g., seated in thespool seat 262) while in the stowed position (FIG. 3A and 3E). The spoolseat 262 may have a shape complimentary to the shape of the spool 210.

In the examples shown, the spool 210 moves away from the spool seat 262in a forward direction F to move to its deployed position. The spool 210moves towards the spool seat 262 in a backward direction B to move toits stowed position. However, these directions may be opposite; forexample, the feature receiver 254 may be located on a distal portion,rather than a proximal portion. In this case (not shown), the spool 210moves away from the spool seat 262 in the backward direction B to moveto its deployed position. In addition, the spool 210 moves towards thespool seat 262 in a forward direction to move to its stowed position.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 4A, in some examples, the spool system 200includes a spool splitter 264 (e.g., multiplexer). The spool splitter264 provides a one-to-many signal multiplier for delivering a signal viathe fiber cables 24 to multiple users 30 (as will be later discussedwith respect to FIGS. 7A-8C). The spool splitter 264 may be disposedadjacent the spool body 250.

In some implementations, the spool body 220 includes a flanged cylinder222 defining a bore 224 and a shaft support 226 disposed in the bore224. The shaft support 226 receives the shaft 230, such that rotation ofthe shaft 230 causes rotation of the flanged cylinder 222.Alternatively, the spool body 220 may include first and second ringeddiscs 228 a, 228 b spaced parallel from each other and a spool core 229disposed between the ringed discs 228 a, 228 b. The spool core 229receives the shaft 230, such that rotation of the shaft 230 causesrotation of the spool core 229. One of the ringed discs 228 may define aslit 227 extending from an inner diameter D_(In) of the ringed disc 228to an outer diameter D_(Out) of the ringed disc 228. A length of fiberoptic cable 24 spooled on the spool 210 may have one end portionposition in the slit 227, allowing access to the end portion of thefiber optic cable 24 in the spool core 229, e.g., for connection to thespool splitter 264.

Referring to FIGS. 7A -8C, in some implementations, a spool array 201includes multiple spool systems 200 arranged adjacent one another in amodular form. Each spool support 250, includes the base 260 and thecantilevered arm 270 disposed on the base 260, allow the compactarrangement of one spool system 200 adjacent to another spool system200. In some examples, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, the spool array 201 aincludes eight spool systems 200. In other examples, as shown in FIGS.8A-8C, the spool array 201 b includes four spool systems 200. The spoolarray 201 may include any number of spool systems 200 arranged adjacentto one another.

Each spool system 200 includes a fiber drop cable 24 (e.g., 200 feet ormore) long enough to reach a user's unit 120. The cable 24 includes twotips, a customer tip and an assembly tip. The customer tip is a pushableconnector type spliced on each drop cable 24. The assembly tip (e.g.,pre-connected SC/APC tip) is connected to a cassette or splitter housing26, which is in turn connected to a spool splitter 264. Each spoolsystem 200 allows the technicians to move the spool system 200 to adeployed position and then spool off the amount of drop fiber 24 thatthey need for each unit 120. When the technicians finish deploying thefiber cable 24, the technicians stow the spooling system 200 back to itsstowed position, locking the cable fiber 24 and preventing it from beingdropped. Since the spooling system 200 includes storage space for thefiber cable 24, the system 200 eliminates the need for additional slack(for storing an excess length of pre-connected fiber optic drop cable).Moreover, the containment of the extra fiber cable 24 in the spoolingsystem 200 improves the aesthetics of the installation (e.g., by using900 micron fiber cable, which is small and reinforced for up to 16 lbsof pull) and reduces the time the technician needs to deploy the fibercable 24 by eliminating the time and cost to splice the fiber cable 24for each user 30, leading to a reduction in the cost of the overallfiber deployment. In addition, the fiber cable 24 wound around theflanged cylinder 222 may be a 900 micron cable, which is smaller thanthe three millimeter cables that are generally used in the deployment offiber cable 24 to the home of each user 30. The smaller cable (e.g., 900micron) is lighter and fits in tighter spaces and within a compact spoolbody 210 (the spool body 210 has an outer diameter D_(Out) equal toabout four inches).

Referring back to FIGS. 4A, 7C, and 8B, in some implementation, thespool system 200 includes connector storage clips 28 for storing thesplitter housing 26 of the assembly tip of the fiber 24 when it is notconnected to the spool splitter 264. Therefore, when the splitterhousing 26 is stored in the connector storage clip 28, the techniciancan detach the spool 210 from the spool support 250 by releasing theshaft support 226.

FIG. 9 provides an arrangement of operations for a method 900 of using aspool 210. The spool 210 includes a spool body 220 having a center axisof rotation R and a shaft 230 that has a first end 214 a disposed on thespool body 220 and extending from the spool body 220 along the centeraxis of rotation R to a second end. Moreover, the spool 210 includes ananti-rotation feature 240 disposed on the shaft 230. The anti-rotationfeature 240 defines a non-circular shape. The spool moves between astowed position and a deployed position along a slot 252 defined by aspool support 250. The anti-rotation feature 240 of the spool isunseated from a feature receiver 254 defined by the spool support 250while in the deployed position, allowing rotation of the spool 210. Themethod 900 includes moving 902 the spool 210 from the stowed position tothe deployed position on the spool support 250 that supports the spool210. The method 900 includes paying 904 out a length of cable 24 spooledon the spool 210; and moving 906 the spool 210 from the deployedposition to the stowed position. The anti-rotation feature 240 of thespool is received by the feature receiver 254 while in the stowedposition. The feature receiver 254 has a complementary shape of theanti-rotation feature 240 preventing rotation of the spool 210. In someexamples, the method 900 includes moving the spool 210 onto a spool seat262 defined by the spool support 250 when the spool 210 is in the stowedposition. The method 900 may include connecting a connector 26 disposedon one end of the cable 24 to a spool splitter 264 disposed on the spoolsupport 250.

In some implementations, the spool support 250 includes a spool seat 262and a cantilevered arm 270 disposed on the spool seat 262. Thecantilevered arm 270 defines the slot 252 and the feature receiver 254.

The anti-rotation feature 240 may be disposed on the second end 232 b ofthe shaft 230 and may define a square shape. Additionally oralternatively, the slot 252 may have first and second ends 252 a, 252 b,where one end of the slot 252 defines the feature receiver 254.

The spool body 220 may include a flanged cylinder 222 defining a bore224 and a shaft support 226 disposed in the bore 224 and receiving theshaft 230. A rotation of the shaft 230 causes rotation of the flangedcylinder 222. In some examples, the spool body 220 includes first andsecond ringed discs 228 a, 228 b spaced parallel from each other and aspool core 229 disposed between the ringed discs 228 and receiving theshaft 230. The rotation of the shaft 230 causes rotation of the spoolcore 229. One of the ringed discs 228 may define a slit 227 extendingfrom an inner diameter of the ringed disc 228 to an outer diameter ofthe ringed disc 228.

FIG. 10 provides an arrangement of operations for a method 1000 thatincludes mounting 1002 a spool system 200 on a floor 111 of a multipledwelling unit 110. The spool system 200 includes at least one spool 210of fiber optic cable 24. Each end of each fiber optic cable 24 has aspliced on connector 26. The method further includes paying out 1004 alength of fiber optic cable 24 from the at least one spool 210 to reacha customer unit 120 of the multiple dwelling unit 110, connecting 1006one of the connectors 26 of the paid out fiber optic cable 24 to a floorsplitter 264, and connecting 1008 the floor spool splitter 264 to adistribution splitter 113 of the multiple dwelling unit 110.

In some implementations, the distribution splitter 113 of the multipledwelling unit is connected to other floor splitters 264 associated withother floors 110 of the multiple dwelling unit 110. The method mayinclude moving the spool 210 from a stowed position to a deployedposition on a spool support 250 supporting the spool 210 before payingout the length of fiber optic cable 24 spooled on the spool 210.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: mounting a spool system at afloor level of a multiple dwelling unit, the floor level having multiplecustomer units, the spool system comprising at least one spool of fiberoptic cable, each end of each fiber optic cable having a spliced-onconnector; moving the at least one spool from a stowed position to adeployed position on a spool support supporting the at least one spool,the at least one spool comprising: a spool body having a center axis ofrotation; a shaft having a first end disposed on the spool body andextending from the spool body along the center axis of rotation to asecond end; and an anti-rotation feature disposed on the shaft, theanti-rotation feature defining a non-circular shape, wherein the spoolmoves in a direction extending perpendicular to the center axis ofrotation between the stowed position and the deployed position along aslot defined by a spool support, and the anti-rotation feature of thespool unseated from a feature receiver defined by the spool supportwhile in the deployed position, allowing rotation of the spool; payingout a length of fiber optic cable from the at least one spool to reach acustomer unit of the floor level; moving the at least one spool from thedeployed position to the stowed position after paying out the length offiber optic cable, the anti-rotation feature of the at least one spoolreceived by the feature receiver while in the stowed position, thefeature receiver having a complementary shape of the anti-rotationfeature preventing rotation of the at least one spool; connecting one ofthe connectors of the paid-out fiber optic cable to a floor splitter;and connecting the floor splitter to a distribution splitter of themultiple dwelling unit.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedistribution splitter of the multiple dwelling unit is connected toother floor splitters associated with other floors of the multipledwelling unit.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving theat least one spool onto a corresponding spool seat defined by the spoolsupport when the at least one spool is the stowed position.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation feature is disposed on thesecond end of the shaft.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theanti-rotation feature defines a square shape.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the slot has first and second ends, one end of the slot definingthe feature receiver.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the spoolsupport comprises: a base; and a a cantilevered arm disposed on thebase, the cantilevered arm defining the slot and the feature receiver.8. The method of claim 7, wherein the base defines a spool seat, the atleast one spool seated in the spool seat while in the stowed position.9. The method of claim 7, wherein the spool splitter is disposed on thebase of the spool support.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the spoolbody comprises: a flanged cylinder defining a bore; and a shaft supportdisposed in the bore and receiving the shaft, wherein rotation of theshaft causes rotation of the flanged cylinder.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the spool body comprises: first and second ringed discsspaced parallel from each other; and a spool core disposed between theringed discs and receiving the shaft, wherein rotation of the shaftcauses rotation of the spool core.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinone of the ringed discs defines a slit extending from an inner diameterof the ringed disc to an outer diameter of the ringed disc.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the slot has a first side and a second sideopposite the first the side, the slot comprising: a first feature guidedisposed on the first side of the slot and configured to guide theanti-rotation feature towards the feature receiver; and a second featureguide disposed on the second side of the slot and configured to guidethe anti-rotation feature towards the feature receiver, the firstfeature guide offset from the second feature guide by a distanceextending parallel to the slot.